New Zealand Now Legally Recognizes Weddings Performed in the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster

In New Zealand, Spaghetti Monster weddings performed by an ordained Pastafarian are now recognized as legally binding

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Weddings will be performed by the head of New Zealand’s Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, Ministeroni Karen Martyn.

The island nation has legalized nuptials performed in the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster — a secular religion that views the existence of a Flying Spaghetti Monster to be just as probable as the existence of the Christian God.

“If people are given the right to wear religious garments in government ID photos, then this must extend to people who follow the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster,” David Niose, legal director of the Appignani Humanist Legal Center, said at the time.

New Zealand, however, is believed to be the first government to legally recognize marriages performed in the church. The head of the New Zealand church, Karen Martyn, will perform weddings as an ordained “Ministeroni.”